Bladder Cancer

Approved immunotherapeutic agents (for bladder cancer)

Atezolizumab, an anti–PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, was approved in 2016 for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in patients with disease progression after treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen.

Bladder cancer combination therapy/treatment algorithms

Currently, atezolizumab is not recommended as part of a combination therapy regimen. The NCI recommends treatment with one of the following agents or combinations for patients with disease progression after first-line therapy:

Atezolizumab;

Paclitaxel or docetaxel;

Gemcitabine; or

Pemetrexed.

Current clinical trials for bladder cancer

The PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab was designated in early 2016 as a breakthrough therapy for the treatment of urothelial cancer. The NCI recommends that patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease who have failed first-line treatment should participate in clinical trials of new treatment agents.